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IMDbPro

Bite the Bullet

  • 1975
  • PG
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
Candice Bergen, James Coburn, and Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)
A group of ex-rough riders, an ex-prostitute and a gunfighter enter a horse race in the desert.
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
31 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

A pair of ex-Rough Riders, a former prostitute, a gunfighter, an aging cowboy and an English gentleman enter a 700-mile horse race through the Southwest desert in 1908.A pair of ex-Rough Riders, a former prostitute, a gunfighter, an aging cowboy and an English gentleman enter a 700-mile horse race through the Southwest desert in 1908.A pair of ex-Rough Riders, a former prostitute, a gunfighter, an aging cowboy and an English gentleman enter a 700-mile horse race through the Southwest desert in 1908.

  • Director
    • Richard Brooks
  • Writer
    • Richard Brooks
  • Stars
    • Gene Hackman
    • Candice Bergen
    • James Coburn
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    5.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Brooks
    • Writer
      • Richard Brooks
    • Stars
      • Gene Hackman
      • Candice Bergen
      • James Coburn
    • 55User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos31

    Candice Bergen and Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    14" x 22" movie poster
    Candice Bergen, James Coburn, and Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Gene Hackman and Jan-Michael Vincent in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    James Coburn in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Candice Bergen in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    James Coburn and Gene Hackman in Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Bite the Bullet (1975)
    Bite the Bullet (1975)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Sam Clayton
    Candice Bergen
    Candice Bergen
    • Miss Jones
    James Coburn
    James Coburn
    • Luke Matthews
    Ben Johnson
    Ben Johnson
    • Mister
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • Sir Harry Norfolk
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    Jan-Michael Vincent
    • Carbo
    Robert Donner
    Robert Donner
    • Reporter
    Jean Willes
    Jean Willes
    • Rosie
    Mario Arteaga
    • Mexican
    Dabney Coleman
    Dabney Coleman
    • Jack Parker
    John McLiam
    John McLiam
    • Gebhardt
    Bob Hoy
    Bob Hoy
    • Lee Christie
    • (as Robert Hoy)
    Jerry Gatlin
    Jerry Gatlin
    • The Wood Cutter
    Sally Kirkland
    Sally Kirkland
    • Honey
    Walter Scott
    Walter Scott
    • Steve
    • (as Walter Scott Jr.)
    William H. Burton Jr.
    • Billy
    • (as Bill Burton)
    Buddy Van Horn
    Buddy Van Horn
    • Slim
    Joe Brooks
    Joe Brooks
    • Director
      • Richard Brooks
    • Writer
      • Richard Brooks
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was inspired by the 1908 700-mile cross-country horse race from Evanston, Wyoming to Denver, Colorado. It was sponsored by the Denver Post, which offered $2,500 prize money to the winner.
    • Goofs
      As the third (Jan-Michael Vincent) of three riders is exiting the train at the race station (close to the 12 minute mark), you can clearly see a crew member wearing t-shirt, sun-glasses and wrist watch, looking perfectly mid-1970's.
    • Quotes

      Mister: God, what ain't I tried. Pony express rider, Overland Stage driver, lawman, gambler, riverman, rancher, rodeo hand, barman, spittoon man... old man. Never much to remember. Of course, there ain't much to forget, either. Nobody's got much use for an old man. I can't blame 'em much. That's why I'm going to win this here newspaper race. When I cross the finish line, I get to be a big man. Top man. A man to remember.

    • Alternate versions
      UK version is cut (ca. 10 sec.) to remove sight of cruelty to horses (illegal horse falls) due to the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937.
    • Connections
      Featured in Behind the Action: Stuntmen in the Movies (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      National Emblem
      (uncredited)

      Written by Edwin Eugene Bagley

    User reviews55

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Enduring just because you can
    Westerns about the 19th and early 20th century are almost by definition American mythology, but one has the choice of a wide variety of sub-genres. Many are focused on the individuals protecting others from violence, another group centers on the brave pioneers or the abused Native-Americans, and most of the rest expand on a sensationalistic version of the West. Films in this last category include the "Lonesome Dove" series, all the Jesse James/Younger brothers/Billy the Kid/O.K. Corral epics and recent films like "Unforgiven." The common denominator in all these films is some extraordinary circumstance that forces one individual or group of individuals to stand out in some heroic way. The few exceptions are generally family films that tell about daily life and difficulties along the way, but find a way to make you feel good about the world when all is done.

    "Bite the Bullet," "Monte Walsh," "Ulzana's Raid," and films like them tell a different story where animals and people suffer, people die for no good reason, and there are no heroes. The emphasis in these films is on telling a true story with all the mundane unpleasantness left intact. "Bite the Bullet" is not a feel-good film, but it does offer a realistic portrayal of an endurance race by choosing an assortment of standard western types and evaluating them through the eyes of one reluctant participant. I can't fault those who criticize the movie cliches in this film, because they are there and they are annoying, but I still admire this film for showing the race itself was a worthless and destructive enterprise for all the casual participants. Considering the support given cliché-driven movies like "Silverado" and sensationalistic extravaganzas like "Lonesome Dove," "Bite the Bullet," in my opinion, deserves a larger audience and a better overall IMDB rating than it has gotten.
    helpful•13
    7
    • DFC-2
    • Oct 25, 1999

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 25, 1975 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • 700 Meilen westwärts
    • Filming locations
      • White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, USA(filmed on location in: The White Sands National Monument, New Mexico)
    • Production companies
      • Persky-Bright Productions
      • Vista
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $4,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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